No. 72.] Mr. King to Mr. Seward. LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, Rome, December 17, 1866. SIR: I hasten to acknowledge the receipt of despatches numbers 44, 45, 46, and 47, from the State Department, in reply to my numbers 65 and 66, of November 2d and 10th, relative to the affair of John H. Surratt. I am gratified to learn that the steps which I felt called upon to take in the matter have met the approval of the department. It will give me great pleasure to convey to Cardinal Antonelli the assurance of the President's sincere satisfaction with the prompt and friendly action of the Papal government. As anticipated in my last, the United States corvette Swatara, Captain Jeffers, arrived at Civita Vecchia on Wednesday last, 12th instant, and was followed next day by the Frolic, Captain Upsher. The latter brought despatches from the admiral, directing the Swatara to proceed forthwith to Malta. She sailed, accordingly, at noon next day. At Malta no doubt Captain Jeffers will receive further instructions from Admiral Goldsborough, who must be in that neighborhood. The Frolic remains at Civita Vecchia awaiting orders. Signor Tonello, the Italian envoy, whose arrival in Rome 'I mentioned in a previous despatch, had his first formal interview with the Pope on Saturday, the 15th instant. It lasted an hour, but the result has not yet transpired. In my despatch of the 10th instant I gave the substance of the Pope's remarks to the French officers, who, with their general-Count Montebello-went in a body to pay their parting respects to his Holiness. I enclose herewith a full report of the address of General Montebello and the reply of the Pope. Count Sartiges, the ambassador of France, who has been absent from Rome for several months, resumed his post and duties two days since. I called upon him yesterday to congratulate him on his safe return, and met, as always, a kind and cordial welcome. The count seems to think it still doubtful whether the Empress Eugenie will visit Rome at the present juncture. The telegraph announces her departure from Paris as fixed for the 18th instant, and does not regard the opening speech of Victor Emanuel to the Italian Chambers, on the 15th instant, as calculated to satisfy the views and expectations of the Papal court. Meanwhile all remains quiet at Rome. St. Marie, who first informed me of Surratt's being in the corps of zouaves, has been discharged from the Papal service at my request. I have paid him. the sum specified in the despatch from the State Department of October 16th. Threats had been made against him by some of his old comrades; and thinking that his life was not altogether safe, and that he might be wanted in Alexandria as a witness to identify Surratt, I put him in charge of Captain Jeffers, and he sailed in the Swatara on Friday last. His great desire seems to be to return to America and aid in bringing Surratt to justice. I have seen, as yet, no reason to doubt his good faith, or question the truth of his statements. I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant, Hon. WILLIAM H. SEWARD, Secretary of State, Washington, D. C. No. 74.] Mr. King to Mr. Seward. LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, Rome, December 24, 1866. SIR: I received on Saturday, 22d instant, a telegraphic despatch, of which the following is a translation: AMERICAN MINISTER, Rome: ALEXANDRIA, December 22. I delivered Surratt on board the United States corvette Swatara 21st instant, without any difficulty. HALE, Consul. Ere this, I presume, the Swatara is well on her way to Malta, with Surratt on board. The United States corvette Canandaigua, Lieutenant Commander McCrea, arrived at Civita Vecchia on the 20th instant, and leaves again for Malta to-morrow. It is the impression of her officers that she will be ordered to take Surratt to the United States. I have the honor to be, with great respect, your obedient servant, Hon. WILLIAM H. SEWARD, No. 75.] Secretary of State, Washington, D. C. Mr. King to Mr: Seward. [Extract.] RUFUS KING. LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, Rome, December 24, 1866. SIR: In my despatch, No. 71, of December 10th, I mentioned the arrival in Rome of envoys despatched by Victor Emanuel to open negotiations with the Papal government. As yet very little progress has been made, although Signor Tonello has enjoyed several interviews with Cardinal Antonelli and one audience with the Pope. His Holiness, it is said, listens quietly to the propositions of the Italian envoy, but makes no counter ones. The prevailing opinion still is that no common basis can be found for treating between the two courts. Meantime everything remains perfectly tranquil in Rome. The withdrawal of the French troops, and the substitution of the Papal for the French flag, were accomplished without the slightest difficulty or disturbance. On the surface, indeed, the city never seemed more quiet than now, and at least the tide of travel is setting strongly in this direction. The probabilities now seem to be that the winter will pass away without any change in the existing order of things. * * * * I a Hon. WILLIAM H. SEWARD, Secretary of State, Washington, D. C. RUFUS KING. Mr. King to Mr. Seward. No. 77.] LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, Rome, January 7, 1867. SIR: I beg to acknowledge the receipt of despatch, No. 50, from the State Department, advising me that the commanding officer of the European squadron had been instructed to station one of his vessels at Civita Vecchia. As reported in my despatch of December 17th, the United States ship Frolic arrived at Civita on the 13th ultimo, and still remains in port there. The exigency which seemed to call imperatively for the presence of an American man-of-war in that harbor has, for the moment, passed away. Rome continues tranquil, and the prevalent belief is that no political movement or disturbance need be apprehended for some months to come. I shall be glad, however, if the public interests will admit of the Frolic's remaining at Civita Vecchia for a while longer. Her presence there is highly acceptable to the Papal government, as well as very gratifying to the Americans in Rome. I have the honor to be, with great respect, your obedient servant, RUFUS KING. Hon. WILLIAM H. SEWARD, Secretary of State, Washington, D. C. Mr. King to Mr. Seward. No. 79.] LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, SIR: As I could not, in consequence of temporary illness, pay my respects to the Pope, in accordance with diplomatic custom, between Christmas and the New Year, I applied as soon as my health permitted for the honor of an interview with his Holiness. This was promptly accorded, and on Saturday last, 12th instant, I had the pleasure of an interesting visit and conversation with the Holy Father. The Pope appeared to be in excellent health and spirits, and showed no external signs of disturbance at the " wars and rumors of wars which fill the public ear in Rome. He asked about matters in America, inquired as to the health of the President, and expressed the hope that the differences between the Executive and Congress would not lead to any serious results. Reverting to the state of affairs in Rome and Italy, he said: "Every day of quiet is a day gained. They tell me the republicans are coming to Rome, conte qui conte; that Garibaldi and Mazzini are coming and mean to make Rome the capital of Italy. Well, we will wait and see. This," pointing to a crucifix on his table," is all my artillery." It did not seem to me that the Holy Father, in alluding to this report, betrayed much emotion or spoke as if he really believed in the speedy advent of the "republicans." But though Rome still continues perfectly tranquil, and the general belief is that it will so remain for some months to come, there is a wide-spread impression, and one which daily gains ground, that a change is near at hand. Opinions differ as to whether the republicans, under the lead of Garibaldi, Mazzini and others, or the Italian troops of Victor Emanuel, or the Romans themselves, grown restive under priestly rule, will inaugurate the revolutionary movement which nearly all parties seem to regard as imminent. For the present, nevertheless, everything remains quiet in the "Eternal City," and our countrymen and countrywomen are flocking hither in unwonted numbers. The negotiations between the Italian envoy, Signor Tonello, and the Papal court, which related wholly to ecclesiastical matters, are making satisfactory progress, and will result, it is thought, in an amicable arrangement. I am, sir, with great respect, your obedient servant, Hon. WILLIAM H. SEWARD, Secretary of State, Washington, D. C. RUFUS KING. No. 82.] Mr. King to Mr. Seward. LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES AT ROME, February 11, 1867. SIR: In the New York (semi-weekly) Times, of January 25, received this day, I observe the following item of intelligence among the proceedings of Congress : Protestant church at Rome.-On motion of Mr. Dodge, the President was requested to communicate information in reference to the removal of the Protestant church meeting at the American embassy in Rome. Other papers of the same date contain statements to the effect that the American chapel had been removed, by direction of the Papal authorities, outside the walls of Rome; and that the American minister, assenting to the arrangement, had hired a villa, where the services were henceforth to be held. I beg to say that there is no truth in either statement. The American Protestant church in Rome remains where it was located at the commencement of the season, and will not, I think, be interfered with, for the present, at any rate. As the matter seems to have excited much interest in the United States, I will endeavor, by next mail, to prepare and transmit a full history of the case, for the information of the department and the satisfaction of the people. I am, sir, with great respect, your obedient servant, SIR: In the brief despatch which I had the honor to address to the Secretary of State, under date of February 11th, referring to the action taken by the House of Representatives on the rumored closing or removal of "the Protestant church meeting at the American embassy in Rome," I contented myself with a simple denial of the alleged fact, reserving for a future communication a fuller history of the case. I now submit a detailed statement of the matter, for the information of the department and of the public. In Wheaton's Elements of International Law, sixth edition, page 304, the existing rule as to freedom of religious worship is thus laid down: "A minister resident in a foreign country is entitled to the privilege of religious worship in his own private chapel, according to the peculiar forms of his national faith, although it may not be generally tolerated by the laws of the state where he resides." The laws of Rome do not tolerate any other form of public religious worship than such as conform to the teachings of the Roman Catholic church; but the right of any foreign minister at the Papal court to hold religious services under his own roof, and in accordance with the forms of his national or individual faith, has never been questioned or interfered with. Thus the Russian, the Prussian, the American, and other representatives of foreign powers in Rome, have always exercised, and still enjoy unmolested, the freedom of religious worship in the several chapels connected with their respective legations. These chapels, of course, are open to all compatriots of the different ministers desirous of joining in their religious services. So long as the number of Americans visiting Rome was comparatively limited, it was not difficult for the minister, in securing apartments for himself and family, to make suitable provision as well for a chapel. But of late years, with the very great increase of travel, this has been no easy matter. It has not unfrequently occurred that the congregation worshipping under the minister's roof has reached the number of 250 or 300, and more than once has been much larger than could be accommodated in the apartments provided. These, of course, once set apart and suitably furnished for religious worship, could be used for no other purpose, and hence it has followed that the largest and best rooms in the minister's residence were practically inaccessible to him except on Sundays and holydays. In 1859, I think, while Mr. Stockton was minister resident here, Grace church in Rome was regularly organized, and placed under the jurisdiction of the presiding bishop of the American Episcopal church. It is under the auspices of this organization that religious worship has since been conducted, in connection with the American legation in Rome. In the spring of 1865, the Rev. Dr. T. B. Lyman, formerly of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, was regularly elected by the wardens and vestry of Grace church as their rector. accepted the charge, entered upon his trust in the fall of the same year, and has since continued to discharge its duties to the general acceptation of all who united in the services. He During the winter of 1865 and 1866 the residence of the American minister was in Salviati palace, and there the congregation of Grace church, as well as all American Protestants desirous of uniting with them, met regularly for purposes of religious worship. At times the number attending was in excess of the accommodation provided, comparatively ample though it was, and attracted a good deal of attention. The holding of Protestant worship under Duke Salviati's roof, and the crowd thereby gathered, were not agreeable to the proprietor, and he declined to renew the lease of the minister's apartments for another year, except upon the express condition that there should be no chapel connected therewith. Repeated efforts to obtain other quarters suitable for the minister's residence, and free from the restriction attached to the Salviati palace, proved unavailing. It was under these circumstances that Dr. Lyman and the vestry of Grace church decided to hire an apartment themselves, separate from the legation, where they could hold religious services; confident in the belief that they would not be interfered with by the local authorities. Rooms were accordingly procured, fitted and furnished, in the Vicolo d'Alibert, a central and convenient locality, and there, since early in November, our American fellowcitizens have assembled for public worship, and still continue to assemble without let or hindrance. The English, who annually flock to Rome in large numbers, have been accustomed these 40 years past to hold religious services, in accordance with the forms of their national church, in a large building just outside the Porto del Popolo. They have never been interfered with by the authorities. During the last five or six years the Scotch Presbyterians, perhaps 30 or 40 in number, have met for purposes of religious worship in a private house within the walls of Rome. A few months since a second Scotch Presbyterian congregation was formed, the line of separation between the two being the same that divides the Established from the Free Kirk of Scotland. This division, and the presence and participation of the Duke of Argyle, who chanced to be here, attracted the notice and led to the interference of the local authorities. It was intimated to the ministers of the two Scotch congregations that their services were contrary to law, and must be held outside the walls. They have transferred them, accordingly, to the building immediately opposite to the one so long occupied by the English Protestants. There, I presume, they will be allowed to meet and worship unquestioned and unmolested. It was supposed by many that the closing of the American chapel, being apart from the residence of the minister, would necessarily follow that of the Scotch places of worship. To prevent, if possible, a step which I knew would |